Wis. Stat. » CHAPTER 971 — CRIMINAL PROCEDURE — PROCEEDINGS BEFORE AND AT TRIAL
Wisconsin Statutes

Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (2026)

Pleas

✓ current as of July 2026
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971.06971.06 Pleas.
971.06(1)(1) A defendant charged with a criminal offense may plead as follows:
971.06(1)(a)(a) Guilty.
971.06(1)(b)(b) Not guilty.
971.06(1)(c)(c) No contest, subject to the approval of the court.
971.06(1)(d)(d) Not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. This plea may be joined with a plea of not guilty. If it is not so joined, this plea admits that but for lack of mental capacity the defendant committed all the essential elements of the offense charged in the indictment, information or complaint.
971.06(2)(2) If a defendant stands mute or refuses to plead, the court shall direct the entry of a plea of not guilty on the defendant’s behalf.
971.06(3)(3) At the time a defendant enters a plea, the court may not require the defendant to disclose his or her citizenship status.
971.06 HistoryHistory: 1985 a. 252; 1993 a. 486.
971.06 AnnotationInaccurate legal advice renders a plea an uninformed one and can compromise the voluntariness of the plea. State v. Woods, 173 Wis. 2d 129, 496 N.W.2d 144 (Ct. App. 1992).
971.06 AnnotationThe decision to plead guilty is personal to the defendant. A defendant’s attorney cannot renegotiate a plea agreement without the defendant’s knowledge and consent. State v. Woods, 173 Wis. 2d 129, 496 N.W.2d 144 (Ct. App. 1992).
971.06 AnnotationWhether to grant a defendant’s motion to change a plea is within the court’s discretion. State v. Kazee, 192 Wis. 2d 213, 531 N.W.2d 332 (Ct. App. 1995).
971.06 AnnotationThe decision to withdraw a not guilty by reason of mental defect plea belongs to the defendant and not counsel. State v. Byrge, 225 Wis. 2d 702, 594 N.W.2d 388 (Ct. App. 1999), 97-3217.
971.06 AnnotationIf a defendant enters a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect under sub. (1) (d) without an accompanying not-guilty plea, the defendant waives the constitutional right to a trial as to the guilt phase and admits that the defendant committed the criminal act. State v. Fugere, 2018 WI App 24, 381 Wis. 2d 142, 911 N.W.2d 127, 16-2258.
Notes of Decisions
Cited in 39 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1974–2026 · leading case: State v. Corey R. Fugere, 924 N.W.2d 469 (Wis. 2019).
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State v. Corey R. Fugere, 924 N.W.2d 469 (Wis. 2019). · cites it 12× “" Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1)(d). When a defendant enters this plea, the case is bifurcated into two phases: the guilt phase and the responsibility phase.”
State v. Martin, 470 N.W.2d 900 (Wis. 1991). · cites it 8× “Section 971.06, Stats. The court may accept or refuse to accept pleas of guilty or no contest.”
State v. Christopher W. Yakich, 2022 WI 8 (Wis. 2022). · cites it 5× “This distinction animates Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1)(d), which allows a defendant to plead NGI and to accompany that NGI plea with a plea of not guilty.”
State v. Leopoldo R. Salas Gayton, 2016 WI 58 (Wis. 2016). · cites it 4× “Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (3). ¶62 Defendants also have a constitutionally protected due process right to be sentenced upon accurate information.”
State v. Howell, 2007 WI 75 (Wis. 2007). · cites it 4× “See Wis. Stat. § 971.06 ; North Carolina v. Alford, 400 U.”
State v. Leach, 370 N.W.2d 240 (Wis. 1985). · cites it 6× “The plea triggers pretrial procedures for the appointment of experts to examine the defendant.”
State v. Wood, 2010 WI 17 (Wis. 2010). · cites it 2× “Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (l)(d). If the defendant is so found, the court enters a judgment of NGI and issues a commitment order under § 971.”
State v. James Elvin Lagrone, 2016 WI 26 (Wis. 2016). · cites it 3× “§ 971.06 (1)(d). "[T]he court will find the defendant guilty of the elements of the crimes, and the NGI plea will be left for trial.”
State v. Burns, 594 N.W.2d 799 (Wis. 1999). · cites it 6× “For instance, Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1) merely sets out the types of pleas a defendant may make: guilty, not guilty, no contest, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.”
State v. Salentine, 557 N.W.2d 439 (Wis. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 7× “2 In support, Salentine cites § 971.06, Stats., which provides in pertinent part: *425 (1) A defendant charged with a criminal offense may plead as follows: (a) Guilty.”
State v. Julius C. Burton, 2013 WI 61 (Wis. 2013). · cites it 2× “Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (l)(d). If the NGI plea is not joined with a plea of not guilty, the plea admits that but for lack of mental capacity the defendant committed all the essential elements of the offenses charged.”
State Ex Rel. Warren v. Schwarz, 579 N.W.2d 698 (Wis. 1998). · cites it 2× “2d at 856 ("the circuit courts of Wisconsin may, in their discretion, accept Alford pleas") (emphasis added); Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (l)(c) (criminal defendant may plead no contest "subject to the approval of *652 the court").”
Show all 39 citing cases →
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(1) — 5 cases
State v. Corey R. Fugere, 924 N.W.2d 469 (Wis. 2019). “" Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1)(d). When a defendant enters this plea, the case is bifurcated into two phases: the guilt phase and the responsibility phase.”
State v. Leach, 370 N.W.2d 240 (Wis. 1985). “The plea triggers pretrial procedures for the appointment of experts to examine the defendant.”
Hoppenrath v. State, 293 N.W.2d 910 (Wis. 1980).
State v. Hyndman, 488 N.W.2d 111 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992).
State v. Corey R. Fugere (Wis. 2019).
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(1)(a) — 1 case
Sheboygan Cnty. v. N. A. L., 2026 WI 16 (Wis. 2026).
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(1)(d) — 6 cases
State v. Christopher W. Yakich, 2022 WI 8 (Wis. 2022). “This distinction animates Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1)(d), which allows a defendant to plead NGI and to accompany that NGI plea with a plea of not guilty.”
State v. Shegrud, 389 N.W.2d 7 (Wis. 1986).
Hoppenrath v. State, 293 N.W.2d 910 (Wis. 1980).
State v. Fugere, 911 N.W.2d 127 (Wis. Ct. App. 2018).
Am. Strategic Ins. Corp. v. David Curry (Wis. Ct. App. 2024).
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(2) — 2 cases
State v. Martin, 470 N.W.2d 900 (Wis. 1991). “Section 971.06, Stats. The court may accept or refuse to accept pleas of guilty or no contest.”
State v. Burns, 594 N.W.2d 799 (Wis. 1999). “For instance, Wis. Stat. § 971.06 (1) merely sets out the types of pleas a defendant may make: guilty, not guilty, no contest, or not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect.”
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(d) — 1 case
Hughes v. Mathews, 440 F. Supp. 1272 (E.D. Wis. 1977).
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(l)(c) — 1 case
State v. Howard, 492 N.W.2d 371 (Wis. Ct. App. 1992).
— Wis. Stat. § 971.06(l)(d) — 2 cases
Geschwendt v. Ryan, 967 F.2d 877 (3rd Cir. 1992).
State v. Vander Linden, 414 N.W.2d 72 (Wis. Ct. App. 1987).
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